BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: McLane gets his man

McLane gets man in signing OswaltAstros owner not to be denied in pursuit of deal

Published 5:30 am, Sunday, September 3, 2006

It would be an understatement to say Astros owner Drayton McLane was dejected when Carlos Beltran chose the New York Mets over a return to Houston. His sadness was evident on that call he placed to a reporter's home at about 2 a.m. Jan. 9, a little over three hours after he learned Beltran had chosen the Mets.

After about 15 minutes, McLane's spirits were lifted and he ended the call with this prediction: "We'll find a way. We'll be a champion. We'll get to the World Series."

McLane's Astros found a way last year, and they're awakening just in time to find a way again this year. Here's a prediction: If they win the wild card and set up their rotation right, they'll cruise to their second consecutive NL title and subsequent World Series berth.

McLane is as competitive as any of his players, committing millions of his fortune to maintain the Astros as one of the premier teams in baseball. For that reason, it was laughable after the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline when folks predicted McLane could not get a multiyear deal done with ace Roy Oswalt. Oswalt's the perfect McLane type of player: supremely competitive, measured in his words, dedicated to his craft and understanding that he's representing his family's good name on the mound or in the community.

Beltran is the same way, which is why McLane desperately wanted him. Beltran, a favorite for the National League Most Valuable Player award this year, made a personal decision. Now it's time for Astros fans to respect his right to make the best possible choice for his family.

It's time for Astros fans to get over Beltran's departure. He brought so much excitement to Houston during the 2004 postseason that it's sad Astros fans haven't thanked him with a nice reception or at least a cordial one. Beltran made a business decision, one of thousands that are made annually throughout baseball.

That does not discount what he did for the Astros. Jeering him seems petty and beneath a city like Houston. That behavior is so Philadelphia-ish.

Beltran is not the first player to leave Houston via free agency, and he won't be the last. But since he left, McLane has locked up Lance Berkman and Oswalt, giving them rich deals and full no-trade clauses that were not offered to Beltran.

Berkman and Oswalt, who accepted a five-year, $73 million extension Tuesday, came up through the Astros organization. McLane and general manager Tim Purpura have seen Berkman and Oswalt grow within the farm system.

"First of all, I want to thank Drayton, since '97, really," Oswalt said. "Coming in from a small town, no one really paid attention to me, and Houston had the scouts to come and watch me grow as a pitcher and go through the college ranks and stuck with me through the minor leagues.

"I came in as a low draft pick, and they gave me every opportunity, and they moved me up. At the time I thought it was slow, but now I see what they were trying to do. A lot of guys think they should be up here straight out of high school or college, but you learn a lot in the minor leagues, and I think they do a real good job with the guys down there and letting them get innings and learn how to pitch and not rushing them too much.

"I've talked to a lot of guys in different organizations, and the guys who have been here in Houston, there is more bragging about playing for this club than any other club, even the guys who play for the big-market clubs. It's like a family.

"Drayton and I go back and forth with each other on different things. He's like me, he grew up roughing it and trying to get from one stop to the next, and I think it's an honor to be here."

Difference maker

Chicago Cubs
first baseman
Derrek Lee
, who has missed 96 games on the disabled list this season because of complications from a broken wrist, returned from his second DL stint Monday and hit .500 (6-for-12) in the series against the
Pittsburgh Pirates
. The Cubs' season has been marred by multiple injuries to key players such as Lee,
Mark Prior
and
Kerry Wood
. According to Cubs manager
Dusty Baker
, a healthy Lee might have helped the Cubs "make up 10, 12, 15 games by himself."

Hoffman closing in

San Diego Padres
closer
Trevor Hoffman
is within seven saves of tying
Lee Smith's
all-time record for saves, and he realizes each of his saves will be crucial as the Padres fight for the National League wild card.

"If I do get the record this year, it's going to be a good thing for our ballclub," Hoffman told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Edmonds still out

The health front has not been kind to the
St. Louis Cardinals
.
Mark Mulder
is lost for the year, and center fielder
Jim Edmonds
is still out with post-concussion symptoms from hitting his head in June on the warning track at U.S. Cellular Field.

Cardinals physician Dr. James Loomis told Edmonds: "There is no timetable. It could be a week or it could be 10 days or it could be two months," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"There's no treatment for it," trainer Barry Weinberg told the Post-Dispatch. "If he experiences the symptoms with exertion, he stops. And then we try it another day. If he doesn't have the symptoms after exertion, he increases the exertion until he says he's ready to play."

Gonzales might be done

Pirates closer
Mike Gonzales
, who was perfect in 24 save situations this season, is at risk of missing the rest of the season with elbow tendinitis.

"Gonzo is such a big part of our bullpen and you can't underestimate that," lefthander John Grabow told Pittsburgh reporters. "He's obviously had a great season as the closer. Beyond that, he is the guy who keeps us loose in the bullpen during the games. He means a lot to us in a lot of ways.

"But the advantage we have is the depth of our bullpen. We have a lot of guys having good season, and that's why I think we're going to be able to pick up the slack with Gonzo out. We might not be perfect like him but we'll be all right."